Book excerpt: In this unique and charming cookbook, Marty Davidson takes more than 100 delicious Southern recipes that were prepared by her grandmother over a fireplace in the 1800s and adapts them for today's modern appliances. Accompanying the recipes are charming and funny tales of Grandma Grace's family and some of her favorite tips on everyday living. This cookbook will fill your belly with recipes for foods such as Watermelon Syrup, Aunt Hattie Mae's Onion Pie in Cracklin' Pastry, Grandma's Sweet Potato Pone, Milk Soup, Chicken and Cloud-Tender Dumplin's, Molasses Pull Candy, and Maudie's Reception Cookies. It will also fill your heart with joy with stories about relatives Aunt Gussie, Aunt Hattie, Cousin Viola and her bachelor son, Cousin Effy, Cousin Pearl, Aunt Maudie and her jilted daughter, and Aunt Lillie Mae's 325 pound daughter.